Replacing the CMOS battery

[Jackson]

When I replace the CMOS battery in my Dell desktop will my XP(MCE)
recover its settings on its own or will I have to provide all those
settings myself?

There is a DOS program (CMOSRAM2) that copies and restores all those
settings automatically for Win98. Is there such a program for XP?

Thanks

 

[BruceM]

XP will be ok. (in my opinion)
It is only the bios that'll "lose it's memory"
Other than simply resetting the clock to correct time & date, there isn't
really much else you need to do. If you want, you can het DEL on bootup & do
some setting up in there but not desperately necessary.

 

[Harry Ohrn]

Your CMOS or BIOS settings are completely independent from the operating
system. So XP will have no bearing in changing the CMOS settings.

Most programs that save CMOS Settings, and I'd suspect CMOSRAM2 would be the
same, are run from a boot floppy. You start the computer with the floppy and
run the CMOS save app to create a copy of the settings on the floppy. After
you change batteries you run the floppy again and restore the settings.

 

[Jackson]

Your CMOS or BIOS settings are completely independent from the operating
system. So XP will have no bearing in changing the CMOS settings.

Most programs that save CMOS Settings, and I'd suspect CMOSRAM2 would be the
same, are run from a boot floppy. You start the computer with the floppy and
run the CMOS save app to create a copy of the settings on the floppy. After
you change batteries you run the floppy again and restore the settings.

--


Harry Ohrn MS MVP [Shell\User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp

Yes, that what I was asking about. Do you know of such a program that
will work on XP?

When I remove the battery to change it, the computer will be totally
without power. I assume that all the bios settings are in volatile
memory and will be lost when the old battery is removed. That's just
an assumption; if the bios settings are stored in permanent memory
they will be okay. I was told that some systems have a capacitor that
provides a charge for the bios memory for a short time while the
battery is being changed, but who knows...

I don't mind setting the time manually, but I don't want to have to
reset all that bios stuff if there is an application that will do it
for me.

Thanks. Jackson

 

[Jackson]

XP will be ok. (in my opinion)
It is only the bios that'll "lose it's memory"

Well, that's what I'm worried about. If the bios settings are lost
when the old battery is removed how do I get them back?

Other than simply resetting the clock to correct time & date, there isn't
really much else you need to do. If you want, you can het DEL on bootup & do
some setting up in there but not desperately necessary.

I don't mind setting the clock, it is the other scores of bios
settings that I'm worried about.

 

[Phil Weldon]

| Yes, that what I was asking about. Do you know of such a program that
| will work on XP?
|
| When I remove the battery to change it, the computer will be totally
| without power. I assume that all the bios settings are in volatile
| memory and will be lost when the old battery is removed. That's just
| an assumption; if the bios settings are stored in permanent memory
| they will be okay. I was told that some systems have a capacitor that
| provides a charge for the bios memory for a short time while the
| battery is being changed, but who knows...
|
| I don't mind setting the time manually, but I don't want to have to
| reset all that bios stuff if there is an application that will do it
| for me.
_____

There are programs that save BIOS settings to a floppy, but that is hardly
necessary since you have a Dell; there will be very few BIOS settings that
will need to be redone. Some settings are automatic (drive parameters, for
example.) If you have never changed any settings other than the time, very
likely there is a 'Load Default' option that will handle the other settings.
Now if you had another type of system, say, one you built yourself, there
might be dozens of saving you'd want to save. With a Dell, likely the only
settings you would have to replace are items like 'repetition rate' for the
keyboard. There are so few settings in the Dell BIOS that must be reset you
might as well just write them down, and make the few necessary changes when
you boot up after replacing the BIOS. None of the volatile settings that
might be lost will prevent rebooting.

Phil Weldon

|
| >
| >| >> When I replace the CMOS battery in my Dell desktop will my XP(MCE)
| >> recover its settings on its own or will I have to provide all those
| >> settings myself?
| >>
| >> There is a DOS program (CMOSRAM2) that copies and restores all those
| >> settings automatically for Win98. Is there such a program for XP?
| >>
| >> Thanks.
|
| On Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:34:54 -0600, "Harry Ohrn" <[email protected]>
| wrote:
|
| >Your CMOS or BIOS settings are completely independent from the operating
| >system. So XP will have no bearing in changing the CMOS settings.
| >
| >Most programs that save CMOS Settings, and I'd suspect CMOSRAM2 would be
the
| >same, are run from a boot floppy. You start the computer with the floppy
and
| >run the CMOS save app to create a copy of the settings on the floppy.
After
| >you change batteries you run the floppy again and restore the settings.
| >
| >--
| >
| >
| >Harry Ohrn MS MVP [Shell\User]
| >www.webtree.ca/windowsxp
|
| >
| Yes, that what I was asking about. Do you know of such a program that
| will work on XP?
|
| When I remove the battery to change it, the computer will be totally
| without power. I assume that all the bios settings are in volatile
| memory and will be lost when the old battery is removed. That's just
| an assumption; if the bios settings are stored in permanent memory
| they will be okay. I was told that some systems have a capacitor that
| provides a charge for the bios memory for a short time while the
| battery is being changed, but who knows...
|
| I don't mind setting the time manually, but I don't want to have to
| reset all that bios stuff if there is an application that will do it
| for me.
|
| Thanks. Jackson

 

[Merlin]

When I replace the CMOS battery in my Dell desktop will my XP(MCE)
recover its settings on its own or will I have to provide all those
settings myself?

There is a DOS program (CMOSRAM2) that copies and restores all those
settings automatically for Win98. Is there such a program for XP?

Thanks

Unless you (or someone else) made changes to settings in the bios they
probably are all set at the default settings. It's not hard to look at your
bios settings and jot them down just to be safe.

 

[Jerry]

When I replace the CMOS battery in my Dell desktop will my XP(MCE)
recover its settings on its own or will I have to provide all those
settings myself?

There is a DOS program (CMOSRAM2) that copies and restores all those
settings automatically for Win98. Is there such a program for XP?

Thanks

Just replace the battery, set the time and get on with your life. Your
making more out of it than is needed.

 

[Jerry]

Just get a big sheet of paper and copy down all the settings from the
various pages as you scroll through the BIOS.

Your CMOS or BIOS settings are completely independent from the operating
system. So XP will have no bearing in changing the CMOS settings.

Most programs that save CMOS Settings, and I'd suspect CMOSRAM2 would be
the
same, are run from a boot floppy. You start the computer with the floppy
and
run the CMOS save app to create a copy of the settings on the floppy.
After
you change batteries you run the floppy again and restore the settings.

--


Harry Ohrn MS MVP [Shell\User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp

Yes, that what I was asking about. Do you know of such a program that
will work on XP?

When I remove the battery to change it, the computer will be totally
without power. I assume that all the bios settings are in volatile
memory and will be lost when the old battery is removed. That's just
an assumption; if the bios settings are stored in permanent memory
they will be okay. I was told that some systems have a capacitor that
provides a charge for the bios memory for a short time while the
battery is being changed, but who knows...

I don't mind setting the time manually, but I don't want to have to
reset all that bios stuff if there is an application that will do it
for me.

Thanks. Jackson

 

[Unknown]

Boy aren't you the sweet understanding guy.

Just replace the battery, set the time and get on with your life. Your
making more out of it than is needed.

 

[BruceM]

Well he could have said "Whatever you do it is very dangerous so take your
computer down to your local computer man & pay heaps for him to set your
clock"
To the OP... it isn't like the old days where most settings need tweaking.

 

[Harry Ohrn]

Your CMOS or BIOS settings are completely independent from the operating
system. So XP will have no bearing in changing the CMOS settings.

Most programs that save CMOS Settings, and I'd suspect CMOSRAM2 would be
the
same, are run from a boot floppy. You start the computer with the floppy
and
run the CMOS save app to create a copy of the settings on the floppy.
After
you change batteries you run the floppy again and restore the settings.

--


Harry Ohrn MS MVP [Shell\User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp

Yes, that what I was asking about. Do you know of such a program that
will work on XP?

When I remove the battery to change it, the computer will be totally
without power. I assume that all the bios settings are in volatile
memory and will be lost when the old battery is removed. That's just
an assumption; if the bios settings are stored in permanent memory
they will be okay. I was told that some systems have a capacitor that
provides a charge for the bios memory for a short time while the
battery is being changed, but who knows...

I don't mind setting the time manually, but I don't want to have to
reset all that bios stuff if there is an application that will do it
for me.

Thanks. Jackson

I think you missed my point. Because you will boot the program that saves
your CMOS settings from a floppy disk you don't need one that works with XP.
XP isn't even going to be loaded because the floppy will load before the
hard drive. Just boot your CMOSRAM32 floppy and save the CMOS settings.

 

[norm]

When I replace the CMOS battery in my Dell desktop will my XP(MCE)
recover its settings on its own or will I have to provide all those
settings myself?

There is a DOS program (CMOSRAM2) that copies and restores all those
settings automatically for Win98. Is there such a program for XP?

Thanks

Noted my settings before changing battery on a Chaintech motherboard.
Changed battery in a few minutes - the settings had not changed so no
need to reset anything.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

XP will be ok. (in my opinion)
It is only the bios that'll "lose it's memory"

Well, that's what I'm worried about. If the bios settings are lost
when the old battery is removed how do I get them back?

Write them down..
Use a digital camera and take a 'screenshot'.

Most of them - 95+% of them - are likely default.
The BIOS is not something most people have to ever deal with.

In other words - resettig the BIOS to default would probably affect you very
little - if at all.

 

[BruceM]

Quoted wrong people but near enough Shenan.............

 

[Jackson]

When I replace the CMOS battery in my Dell desktop will my XP(MCE)
recover its settings on its own or will I have to provide all those
settings myself?

There is a DOS program (CMOSRAM2) that copies and restores all those
settings automatically for Win98. Is there such a program for XP?

Thanks.

Your CMOS or BIOS settings are completely independent from the operating
system. So XP will have no bearing in changing the CMOS settings.

Most programs that save CMOS Settings, and I'd suspect CMOSRAM2 would be
the
same, are run from a boot floppy. You start the computer with the floppy
and
run the CMOS save app to create a copy of the settings on the floppy.
After
you change batteries you run the floppy again and restore the settings.

--


Harry Ohrn MS MVP [Shell\User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp

Yes, that what I was asking about. Do you know of such a program that
will work on XP?

When I remove the battery to change it, the computer will be totally
without power. I assume that all the bios settings are in volatile
memory and will be lost when the old battery is removed. That's just
an assumption; if the bios settings are stored in permanent memory
they will be okay. I was told that some systems have a capacitor that
provides a charge for the bios memory for a short time while the
battery is being changed, but who knows...

I don't mind setting the time manually, but I don't want to have to
reset all that bios stuff if there is an application that will do it
for me.

Thanks. Jackson

I think you missed my point. Because you will boot the program that saves
your CMOS settings from a floppy disk you don't need one that works with XP.
XP isn't even going to be loaded because the floppy will load before the
hard drive. Just boot your CMOSRAM32 floppy and save the CMOS settings.

Okay, I see your point and it makes sense. I will give it a dry run
and check out what it copies as the BIOS. But my present 64-bit twin
CPU system is very different from the 98 system that I had before and
I am not sure that CMOSRAM32 knows where the stuff is kept. I googled
for the old file, but could not find any reference that it could be
used on machines that run XP.

I guess that if the "retrieve" part of the program copies stuff to a
floppy from my HD, that the "restore" part of the program would copy
it back to the same memory location.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Jackson]

Write them down..
Use a digital camera and take a 'screenshot'.

Most of them - 95+% of them - are likely default.
The BIOS is not something most people have to ever deal with.

In other words - resettig the BIOS to default would probably affect you very
little - if at all.

Yeah, you're right. I clicked thru the whole BIOS and except for a
very few items (which I jotted down) everything is on the default. I
guess I was worried over nothing.

Thanks to all who responded.

 

[Phil Weldon]

'Jackson' wrote:
| Okay, I see your point and it makes sense. I will give it a dry run
| and check out what it copies as the BIOS. But my present 64-bit twin
| CPU system is very different from the 98 system that I had before and
| I am not sure that CMOSRAM32 knows where the stuff is kept. I googled
| for the old file, but could not find any reference that it could be
| used on machines that run XP.
|
| I guess that if the "retrieve" part of the program copies stuff to a
| floppy from my HD, that the "restore" part of the program would copy
| it back to the same memory location.
|
| Thanks for your help.
_____

Let me suggest this, to expand on the advice others have given you -
Look at the current settings in the BIOS.
Write then down.
THEN try whatever you wish in the way of a program that saves the settings.
Change your CMOS battery.

Reboot into the BIOS settting pages.
Compare the new settings with the written record.
With a Dell, I seriously doubt you will find anything has changed that will
make a difference in the operation of your system. But if it has, then you
have the written record AND the backup program.

Removing the CMOS battery can NOT change any settings in the Dell BIOS that
will prevent the system form being able to boot to the BIOS pages OR boot
from a floppy (if any) OR from your hard drive.

BIOS is an acronym for Basic Input/Output System, and is a complete (though
very tiny) operating system that can handle the initial startup of a
computer system. This tiny (well, not so tiny, as it is larger than the
complete RAM for the original IBM PC) 'operating system' is NOT dependent on
the CMOS Battery. Only the few parameters that can be set in the BIOS pages
and the Real Time Clock are dependent on the CMOS battery. And, as others
have pointed out, you have a moderate amount of time to change the CMOS
battery and restore power from the mains before the contents of the CMOS
memory disappears.

Finally, if the CMOS battery needs to be changed because the Real Time Clock
looses the time, then you likely have ALREADY lost the BIOS settings, but
just not noticed the difference because they are neglible for the Dell.

Once, long ago (as PC generations are counted), there WERE BIOS settings
that had to be correct for a system to operate (hard drive parameters -
number of heads, number of cylinders, precomp) but that time is gone along
with 20 MByte hard drives.

But having put the cart before the horse, let me now recommend what you
should have done in the VERY first place; CONTACT DELL SUPPORT. This
newsgroup is not really the best place to get the help you need. In fact,
NO newsgroup can replace the precise support from Dell, support that can be
based on EXACT knowledge of your system hardware (via the identification
numbers.)

Phil Weldon

| On Fri, 29 Jun 2007 20:54:21 -0600, "Harry Ohrn" <[email protected]>
| wrote:
|
| >| >>
| >>>
| >>>| >>>> When I replace the CMOS battery in my Dell desktop will my XP(MCE)
| >>>> recover its settings on its own or will I have to provide all those
| >>>> settings myself?
| >>>>
| >>>> There is a DOS program (CMOSRAM2) that copies and restores all those
| >>>> settings automatically for Win98. Is there such a program for XP?
| >>>>
| >>>> Thanks.
| >>
| >> On Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:34:54 -0600, "Harry Ohrn" <[email protected]>
| >> wrote:
| >>
| >>>Your CMOS or BIOS settings are completely independent from the
operating
| >>>system. So XP will have no bearing in changing the CMOS settings.
| >>>
| >>>Most programs that save CMOS Settings, and I'd suspect CMOSRAM2 would
be
| >>>the
| >>>same, are run from a boot floppy. You start the computer with the
floppy
| >>>and
| >>>run the CMOS save app to create a copy of the settings on the floppy.
| >>>After
| >>>you change batteries you run the floppy again and restore the settings.
| >>>
| >>>--
| >>>
| >>>
| >>>Harry Ohrn MS MVP [Shell\User]
| >>>www.webtree.ca/windowsxp
| >>
| >>>
| >> Yes, that what I was asking about. Do you know of such a program that
| >> will work on XP?
| >>
| >> When I remove the battery to change it, the computer will be totally
| >> without power. I assume that all the bios settings are in volatile
| >> memory and will be lost when the old battery is removed. That's just
| >> an assumption; if the bios settings are stored in permanent memory
| >> they will be okay. I was told that some systems have a capacitor that
| >> provides a charge for the bios memory for a short time while the
| >> battery is being changed, but who knows...
| >>
| >> I don't mind setting the time manually, but I don't want to have to
| >> reset all that bios stuff if there is an application that will do it
| >> for me.
| >>
| >> Thanks. Jackson
| >
| >I think you missed my point. Because you will boot the program that saves
| >your CMOS settings from a floppy disk you don't need one that works with
XP.
| >XP isn't even going to be loaded because the floppy will load before the
| >hard drive. Just boot your CMOSRAM32 floppy and save the CMOS settings.
|
| Okay, I see your point and it makes sense. I will give it a dry run
| and check out what it copies as the BIOS. But my present 64-bit twin
| CPU system is very different from the 98 system that I had before and
| I am not sure that CMOSRAM32 knows where the stuff is kept. I googled
| for the old file, but could not find any reference that it could be
| used on machines that run XP.
|
| I guess that if the "retrieve" part of the program copies stuff to a
| floppy from my HD, that the "restore" part of the program would copy
| it back to the same memory location.
|
| Thanks for your help.

 

[Harry Ohrn]

When I replace the CMOS battery in my Dell desktop will my XP(MCE)
recover its settings on its own or will I have to provide all those
settings myself?

There is a DOS program (CMOSRAM2) that copies and restores all those
settings automatically for Win98. Is there such a program for XP?

Thanks.

Your CMOS or BIOS settings are completely independent from the operating
system. So XP will have no bearing in changing the CMOS settings.

Most programs that save CMOS Settings, and I'd suspect CMOSRAM2 would be
the
same, are run from a boot floppy. You start the computer with the floppy
and
run the CMOS save app to create a copy of the settings on the floppy.
After
you change batteries you run the floppy again and restore the settings.

--


Harry Ohrn MS MVP [Shell\User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp


Yes, that what I was asking about. Do you know of such a program that
will work on XP?

When I remove the battery to change it, the computer will be totally
without power. I assume that all the bios settings are in volatile
memory and will be lost when the old battery is removed. That's just
an assumption; if the bios settings are stored in permanent memory
they will be okay. I was told that some systems have a capacitor that
provides a charge for the bios memory for a short time while the
battery is being changed, but who knows...

I don't mind setting the time manually, but I don't want to have to
reset all that bios stuff if there is an application that will do it
for me.

Thanks. Jackson

I think you missed my point. Because you will boot the program that saves
your CMOS settings from a floppy disk you don't need one that works with
XP.
XP isn't even going to be loaded because the floppy will load before the
hard drive. Just boot your CMOSRAM32 floppy and save the CMOS settings.

Okay, I see your point and it makes sense. I will give it a dry run
and check out what it copies as the BIOS. But my present 64-bit twin
CPU system is very different from the 98 system that I had before and
I am not sure that CMOSRAM32 knows where the stuff is kept. I googled
for the old file, but could not find any reference that it could be
used on machines that run XP.

I guess that if the "retrieve" part of the program copies stuff to a
floppy from my HD, that the "restore" part of the program would copy
it back to the same memory location.

Thanks for your help.

I don't know how to make this any clearer but it doesn't matter what OS you
have installed as the CMOSRAM32 program runs independently from the OS. In
fact you could completely remove the hard drive and it should still be able
to copy and save your CMOS setting to the floppy. Don't try saving the file
to the hard drive. Just save it to the floppy. Or get out a digital camera
and run the BIOS screens snapping a picture of each one and don't bother
with the CMOSRAM32 floppy.